How to protect yourself from ID fraud

Figures released last week show one Briton in five thinks they have been a victim of identity crime, and this figure is only set to increase as millions more leave themselves vulnerable to criminals.

Identity fraud is when criminals impersonate someone, using their victim's personal details to take out or get access to credit cards, loans, and other financial products in their name.

For example, bank statements and credit card bills fraudsters find in a bin could be used to get access to a customer's bank account or to take out a loan in that person's name.

But despite the risks, one Briton in three admits to throwing away personal documents such as bank statements and receipts without shredding or destroying them, one person in four does not routinely check bank statements for unfamiliar transactions and almost half of us use the same pin and password across different accounts.

And despite the increased risk of identity theft, four Britons in five have never requested a copy of their credit file. This file holds your credit history and is an easy way to check if credit has been taken out in your name by someone else.

"We are living in an age where protecting your personal information has never been so important," said David Smith, deputy commissioner at the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

"Almost every day we give out our personal details which can leave us open to identity theft, unwanted marketing and a loss of privacy."

In response to this danger, the ICO has produced a top ten list of tips to keeping your identity safe from fraudsters and released a new toolkit for protecting yourself from ID fraud.

The ICO's top ten tips to protect against ID fraud

# Remember, your personal information is important - treat it like any other valuable item.
# If you move house, redirect all your mail and inform your bank, utility companies and other organisations of your new address.
# Ensure your home computer is protected before you go online.
# Always think about who you are giving your information to.
# Get a copy of your personal credit file to check any suspicious credit applications.
# Never disclose secret passwords or pins.
# If you have to post personal documents, ask the post office for advice on the most secure method.
# Check your bank and credit card statements regularly for unfamiliar transactions.
# Shred or destroy personal documents you are throwing away such as bills, receipts, bank or credit card statements, and other documents that show your details.
# Stop unwanted marketing by registering with both the mailing and telephone preference services.